Primary dumbbell-shaped epidural myxoid liposarcoma of the thoracic spine: A case report and review of the literature

Imaging review of the atypical spinal epidural space pathologies

Pathologies affecting the spinal epidural space (SES) comprise various abnormalities. However, they all have the potential to cause thecal sac narrowing or spinal cord compression. In this review, we group these pathologies into degenerative, infective, neoplastic, vascular, traumatic, and others, focusing on their imaging features. Degenerative pathologies of the SES range from disc to facet disease, with a particular emphasis on the less common degenerative pathologies in this review. Infective pathologies affecting the epidural space include spondylodiscitis and associated epidural phlegmon and abscess. Neoplasms arising from typical SES components include neurofibroma, hemangioma, and liposarcoma. MRI is the best modality to assess the anatomy and abnormalities of the epidural space. MRI, combined with computed tomography, or a radiograph, is useful for the evaluation of bones or radiopaque foreign bodies.

SPINAL DUMBBELL EPIDURAL HEMANGIOMA: TWO STAGE/SAME SITTING/SAME POSITION POSTERIOR MICROSURGICAL AND TRANSTHORACIC ENDOSCOPIC RESECTION - CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

- Spinal dumbbell tumors are defined by a narrowing at the point where they penetrate the intervertebral foramina or dura mater, assuming an hourglass or dumbbell shape. Dumbbell-shaped spinal hemangiomas are extremely rare. We describe a dumbbell spinal tumor (epidural cavernous hemangioma) resected by a 2-stage single-sitting combined approach. We also conduct a substantial literature review of the subject. We present a case of a 78-year-old male who was found to have a homogeneously enhancing, dumbbell-shaped, intraspinal, extradural tumor mass extending into the left chest cavity. The tumor was resected with a single-sitting 2-stage posterior technique: a microsurgical approach, followed by endoscopic resection via a thoracoscopic approach. There are several reports in the literature on the combined approach for dumbbell tumors of the spinal cord. Our case is the first to describe 2-stage combined surgery in 1 sitting for dumbbell hemangioma with the patient in the lateral decubitus position for the thoracoscopic part of the surgery; and the use of a fat pad, which was applied in the neuroforamen via the posterior route, as a marker for resection during the transthoracic procedure.

Primary Myxoid Liposarcoma of the Upper Thoracic Spine in an Elderly Patient

Liposarcoma, one of the most common soft-tissue sarcomas, originates from primitive mesenchymal cells, and its diagnostic criteria have been well established. Myxoid liposarcoma is the second most common histological subtype, occurring more frequently during the fourth and fifth decades of life. There are only a few sporadic published cases of spinal liposarcomas, whatever primary or metastatic. We describe an unusual case of primary myxoid liposarcoma of the thoracic spine in a 79-year-old male, presented with a 2-month history of intractable dorsal pain and progressive weakness of lower limbs. Surgical treatment was performed with wide tumor resection, spinal cord decompression, and posterior instrumentation complemented by radiotherapy. Only one other case has been reported with this spinal localization in the literature. Despite its rarity, myxoid liposarcoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of primary tumors of the thoracic spine.